In the world where everything has become a competition, education couldn’t keep itself safe from it. The race to become best is quite rip-roaring; everyone seeks to study in the top universities where students can utilize and explore the extent of their capabilities whilst bringing out something even more significant to the platform.

However, the question here arises how and where to find such universities which will help students in transporting out the best in them and will give a momentous podium to test their aptitude along with knowing the standards to assess such information.

The answer to all your worries lies with the Ranking System that the HEC has formulated. Primarily, the objective is to make your university selection a doddle process. Every year a list of overall top universities along with categorical ranking of universities is published by HEC; keeping in view many imperative factors with an objective to bring solace to not only the students but to make these universities capable of competing in worldwide ranking of top universities by improving the quality of education.

While we are on it, the quality of education and research are the parameters that encapsulate these rankings, providing a great help to all the educational stake holders including; students, researchers, parents, business community and industry etc.

Moreover, education plays a vital role in safeguarding the success of any country. In a country like Pakistan, where agriculture was once a poor man’s job, has now allured great concentration.

People, nowadays, also want to have significant agriculture knowledge including other major subjects like; Engineering, Medical, Law and Management Sciences. As a result, many agriculture universities are coming out on the platform to solidify their position amongst many other famous universities.

However, ranking is still a quite debatable subject; the question is what could be or should be the standards to rank any institution better than the other. In need to bring about international quality education and learning for students, HEC has come up with many ways and designed some standards on the basis of which these rankings are devised.

The reason is simple – to enhance all Higher Education Institutions (HEI’s) in every possible way to make them come at par with international standards of education and learning.

Ranking Criteria Provided by HEC

Moving on, what comes as a handy information is that HEC provides a list of factors or criteria that it undertakes whilst judging any university/institution, withholding specific scores for each, comprising a total score of 100. What’s important is that even these categories are sub-categorized with specific scores for each sub-division furnishing a detailed analysis. (Source: HEC)

Components, their Allotted Scores and Ranking Process

Quality Assurance – 15

Teaching Quality – 30

Research – 41

Finance & Facilities – 10

Social Integration / Community Development – 4

However, the overall ranking criteria are prone to improvement with time, that is based on the feedback and information that HEC collects from the HEI’s. Nevertheless, it’s also important to know the HEC’s methodology to collect such information from various universities. So, let’s go through these points;

Ranking of current year is based up on the HEI’s data collected for the previous year and research output along with PhDs produced in last year.

For category/group placement of HEI, enrolment should be equal or more than 50% in that specific discipline.

In case of shared research papers among number of HEI’s, it has been divided by the number of HEI’s sharing that particular paper.

Overall scores are normalized with the Maximum ‘100’ marks.

Distance Learning Institutions and HEI’s established after 30th June 2010 are not included in this ranking.

Independent ranking is being done for the following Categories (groups);

Overall Top 10 HEIs of Country

General

Engineering & Technology

Business Education

Agriculture & Veterinary

Medical

Arts & Design

Based on the these principles, HEC comes up with a list of overall ranking of top universities in Pakistan every year along with categorized ranking for various fields such as; Agriculture, Business, Art, Medical and Engineering. The intent is to assist students in deciding the suitable institutes for them and also to furnish standards for other universities to look up to in improving the quality of their education through various means.

List of Top 10 Universities in Pakistan

Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad

Founded in 1967 in Islamabad, QUA University withholds quite a supreme position amongst all Pakistani universities. Divided into four Faculties and nine affiliated research centers, this university is well-known for research, technological advancements and intellectual interactions with various international institutes.

University of the Punjab, Lahore

Established during the British Raj, University of Punjab comes under one of the oldest universities of Pakistan. PU, probably, carries the most extensive list of programs that it offers; having 13 faculties within which 63 academic departments, research centers, and institutes reside.

National University of Science & Technology (NUST)

Gradually, finding its way towards the top, Nust has become a great platform for STEM subjects and expanded its rooms for economics, finance, management and social sciences degrees. It is an institution established in collaboration with military and civil educational resources in Islamabad in hopes to provide better learning.

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad

Amongst very few Agriculture universities of Pakistan, UAF wins a prominent position. It is offering as many as eleven faculties related to the field of agriculture and other related subjects and has successfully grabbed the name of best agriculture university in Pakistan.

Aga Khan University

As known to all, Agha Khan University is amongst one of the best medical institutions in the country. Primarily, acting as the most popular hospital, the institution is also fulfilling its role as a great teaching organization passing out extensive flow of doctors every year.

COMSATS Institute of Information Technology

Also known as CIIT, this university has rightfully earned its place amongst best universities in Pakistan. It offers 18 faculties with 96 degree programs along with having many branches around the country and also exhibiting a virtual campus.

Founded in 1967 in affiliation with QUA in Islamabad, PIEAS became independent in 1997. The institution is known for its worth in STEM subjects and has successfully earned a substantial place in Center for Nuclear studies (CNS).

University of Karachi

Providing an extensive number of faculties and departments, KU is an influential university that is considered amongst great Pakistani institutions. The available faculties and departments cover a great many subjects along with a worthy credibility in the field of research.

University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore

Withholding a powerful place in the field of veterinary sciences and microbiology, the university is a best place for animal research and education. There are many under-graduate, graduate, post-graduate programs along with doctorate degree related to animal health, safety, food irradiation and security.

All the above mentioned universities are ranked on the basis of general analysis; however, HEC also devises detailed ranking list of universities comprised up on specific subject or department. So every year, HEC launches a list of top universities in an individual field, let’s have a look at them;

Top Art Universities in Pakistan

National College of Arts, Lahore (NCA)

Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi

Without an exception, the ranks given by HEC guide students in many ways; however, at the end it’s totally up to the educational stakeholders (i.e Students, parents, researchers and business community) to decide upon the institution of their preference. so, we hope you find a perfect university for you and take the sigh of relief.

However, Do you agree with the overall ranking of top ten universities in Pakistan by HEC or you think its missing out something? Do share your views with us!